As Peril and I entered the cool, echoing hallways of the jade mountain, the walls seemed to shimmer with an ethereal glow, reflecting the hues of green and blue that seemed to pulse with the heartbeat of the mountain itself. The air inside was crisp and refreshing, with the scent of stone and the faint tang of salt from distant shores. The stone floors beneath our talons felt ancient, worn smooth by the countless dragons who had walked these halls before us.

Before we could go any further, a voice suddenly called out, sharp and commanding.

"Hold on, there!"

I turned to see a SeaWing dragon, his scales a deep, rich blue that shifted and rippled like the ocean itself. His eyes, a piercing sea-green, fixed on us with an almost disbelieving stare, as if we were a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. His wings, long and elegant, were spread slightly in alertness, and his posture made it clear he wasn't someone to be taken lightly.

"Peril, what are you doing bringing this dragon in here?" he demanded, his tone cold and suspicious. His eyes slid over to me, assessing me with a critical gaze, his stare sizing me up like a warrior preparing for a battle.

Before I could speak, Peril, always quick to stand her ground, flared her wings slightly, her tone defensive.

"Tsunami, stop it!" she snapped, but there was no malice in her voice, just the usual protective edge. "I'm just bringing Midnight in. She's new. Don't be such a pain."

Tsunami's sharp gaze softened just a fraction, but he remained cautious. A larger, more imposing figure suddenly appeared beside him—an older dragon, with wings spread wide in a commanding manner. His scales were a mixture of dark purple and silver, his eyes glowing with wisdom and a hint of authority. His voice, when he spoke, was deep and resonant.

"At ease, Tsunami," he said, brushing his wing lightly against Peril's with a soft gesture, as if to remind him of the place they were in.

Tsunami blinked, his muscles visibly relaxing as he nodded. The older dragon turned toward me, his gaze piercing but not unkind. There was a weight in his stare, as if he were assessing something far beyond what my scales and wings appeared to show.

"But she's right," he said, his voice steady but questioning. "Who are you, exactly?"

I dipped my head in respect, feeling the weight of their gazes but unshaken. I had to stand firm—this was my choice, my path, and I had come here with purpose.

"My name is Midnightwhisper," I said, my voice calm but clear, "but you can call me Midnight. I've come to help this school."

The words felt right—true in a way that settled deep within me, like the ancient stone beneath our talons. The dragon before me studied me for a long moment, his eyes flicking from my talons to my wings, taking in every detail. Finally, he nodded, his expression softening.

"Midnight," he murmured thoughtfully. "Well, welcome to the Jade Mountain then."

Tsunami, still a little skeptical, shot a glance at Peril, but the tension seemed to ease in the air. There was something in the way I had said those words—I've come to help—that seemed to assure them. Even Tsunami's mistrust started to ebb, though I knew that would take time.

The halls of the mountain seemed to hum with a new energy, a door opening to whatever challenges awaited me here. Whatever they were, I was ready.

♡ ♡

As I stepped deeper into the school's stone halls, the weight of my thoughts pressed down. It wasn't just about figuring out how I could help at Jade Mountain Academy; I had to adjust to everything—my new home, the other dragons, and especially my roommate. I still wasn't sure what I was expecting, but when I reached the door marked with a small plaque reading Winter, I had a feeling it wouldn't be as easy as I thought.

I knocked twice, the sound echoing down the hall. After a long moment, the door creaked open, revealing a dragon I instantly recognized. Winter. He was an IceWing, his scales a pale blue like frozen glass, with a sharp, icy edge to his appearance. His wings were folded stiffly behind him, and his tail flicked impatiently.

He looked me over with a cool, assessing gaze, his eyes a deep, chilling blue, before he finally spoke, voice clipped, his words laced with skepticism.

"You're my clawmate?" he asked, his tone betraying just a hint of surprise, maybe even irritation. "A NightWing? Why are you even here?"

I straightened, trying to brush off the cold reception. "Yeah. I'm Midnightwhisper. But you can call me Midnight," I said, stepping inside. "I guess we're stuck with each other for now."

Winter raised an eyebrow at my casual tone, as if the very idea of being 'stuck' with a NightWing dragonet was something of a burden to him. He didn't move to make room for me, instead just standing there, eyeing me as if I might be about to do something suspicious.

"NightWings," he muttered under his breath, as though the mere mention of my tribe was a bitter taste in his mouth. "Great."

I bit my tongue, knowing I couldn't change his opinion of me right off the bat. Not that I was concerned about it, though. He could be as cold and distant as he wanted. It didn't change who I was.

After a tense silence, Winter stepped aside and gestured toward the bed across the room. "Just... don't touch anything. I like things ordered," he added, clearly trying to regain some sense of control in the situation.

I glanced at the room—simple, with stone walls and basic furniture. His bed was neatly made, every item in its place. My bed, on the other hand, was situated beside it, more or less untouched.

"I won't," I said quietly, knowing better than to push.

Winter eyed me for a long moment, as if searching for any signs that I was going to ruin his 'orderly' space. I could almost see the internal debate running through his mind. He didn't want to show it, but a small part of him was curious about me—maybe even uncomfortable with the fact that a NightWing dragonet was now sharing his space.

"I don't trust NightWings," Winter finally muttered, his gaze lingering on me for a second too long before he turned away, giving me space to settle in. "And I don't need anyone disrupting my routine. So just... keep to yourself."

I nodded. "Understood."

His attitude might have been chilly, but I could sense that there was more to him than he let on. Beneath that icy exterior was a dragon who was perhaps just a little unsure, maybe even a little lonely. I wasn't expecting a warm welcome, and I didn't need one, but maybe—just maybe—I could be the one to thaw the ice.

As I unpacked my things, settling in for my first night in the academy, I couldn't help but wonder if Winter's walls would stay as solid as they appeared or if, over time, they would crack open, revealing something more than just the icy dragon I saw before me.'

As I was unpacking my things, a new voice broke the silence. The door to our shared room creaked open, and in stepped a SandWing with a deep scar running across his snout, a jagged reminder of battles fought and survived. His scales shimmered with the golden warmth of the desert sun, and the faint glint of his amber teardrop earring caught the light as he moved.

"Hey, you're new, right?" he asked, his smile wide and friendly, the warmth of his voice striking against the coldness of the room. There was a sense of ease about him that I couldn't help but notice, like he had lived a hundred lives and had learned to enjoy them all, scars and all.

"Name's Qibli," he said, taking a step forward. "Winter's former clawmate. And advisor to Queen Thorn." His words were casual, but there was a hint of pride behind them. He stood tall, a slight swagger in his step, like he was used to being in control, but not in a way that was off-putting. Just confident.

I dipped my head slightly, trying to return the warm energy, though still unsure of how to approach someone so easily outgoing. "Greetings, Qibli. I'm Midnight, a new student here."

Qibli tilted his head, his amber eyes scanning me with mild curiosity. "You're older than us, right?" he asked, a flicker of realization crossing his face.

I nodded, shifting my weight slightly. "I'm 18."

Qibli blinked for a moment, then grinned again, clearly not fazed by the age difference. "Well, that's good! I'm not the oldest dragon around here, but I've definitely got some experience. Can show you the ropes if you need it," he said, flashing a quick smile.

It was odd how easily Qibli made conversation, how natural it was for him to put someone at ease. His smile, though laced with the slight bitterness of someone who had seen the harshness of the world, still felt genuine. His scar only added to the sense of resilience he carried. It was clear he wasn't someone who shied away from trouble, but there was a gentleness in the way he spoke.

I glanced over at Winter, who hadn't moved from his side of the room. His icy eyes flicked to Qibli, then back to me, and I could see the slight tension in his posture. Clearly, Winter wasn't exactly thrilled with this interruption, but I could tell Qibli didn't mind.

Qibli's gaze landed back on me, and he grinned again, unfazed by Winter's cool reception. "Well, Midnight, if you ever need anything, or just someone to talk to who isn't all... icy," he said, glancing toward Winter with a knowing smirk, "you know where to find me."

I smiled back, nodding in thanks. "I'll keep that in mind."

With one last look at Winter, Qibli gave a wave before stepping out, his presence leaving behind a trace of warmth that lingered even after the door clicked shut behind him.

As the room settled back into its previous quiet, I glanced at Winter, who was now even more withdrawn, his gaze cold and distant. I didn't mind, though. Winter's cool demeanor didn't bother me as much as it might've before. Qibli, on the other hand, had already made a mark. He was the kind of dragon who could light up a room with just a few words, and I couldn't help but feel that, despite our differences, he'd be someone I could turn to while I navigated this new life at Jade Mountain Academy.